Solitude Part 2
In my office, I keep a clear, two liter coke bottle of muddy water. Seems strange, but it’s a reminder. This 60-60 practice helps reorient me to seeing God’s presence and activity in the little moments of every day, but I also find I need extended times to just be quiet and let the waters of my soul settle out. Even practicing the 60-60, if I just go, go, go, and never have at least an hour a week, or 30 minutes several times a week, to quietly pray and let God settle the muddy waters, soon my life feels murky. But just like that bottle of water, if you let it rest, the silt settles out and the waters get clear again. I think one of the reasons I’m feeling a renewed excitement in my relationship with God—seeing and hearing more clearly—is because I took a half day for solitude.
Hi John,
I have only been going to gateway for a little over month, which is huge on its own, because i dont get off of work till 8:30 am and i know i am supose to talk to you, to share my story with you, and I think maybe that is why i am here, but you kind of scare me. I do however listen to every word you say, hahahah, and it is alot to share, but god keeps annoying me too.
I guess I have always known God was here with me, I was never suppose to walk, to talk, to live past three, every age was a milestone, I would smile and say hey look at where we are at God, and i know some of it was just because i am stubborn, but i also know i am suppose to share, to inspire,
When I was 13, I tried to commit suicide, I was alone, damaged, hurt, and I wanted love. So i thought hey why not just die, quit this world, and go be with God, i desperately needed him, but i just didnt know how to get him in this life, So i just thought I would go to heaven, and we could be best friends up there.
Once again I was trying to die; The doctors told my family to perform last rights, the doctors gave me too much of a drug, My heart stopped beating a few times, they pronuced me dead a few times, (i didnt even start to get better until churches started praying for me, which is crazy)
So while my body is dead, I go up and Visit God, there is a white light, an angel, who i think may have been my twin that died at birth.
we have the following convo:
God: I am not ready for you to come home yet, This isn’t my plan for you,
Me being a regular 13 year old: but i want a home, i want your love, let me stay
God: It is not your time yet, I am not ready; You need to go back to your wordly home;
me: but i cant reach you down there
God: you just dont know how to yet my child, Go back to your wordly home.
we tell each other we love each other, i make the decision to go back home; and once again become a miracle; when I hit my body, I talk about lights, God, and the fact the girl, in the nextroom gets to go be with God.
I have never forgot about this conversation,
So, imagine the tears that flowed today at church when you said “you just dont know him…yet” over and over again.
Thank you,
just incase you ever read this.
Comment by smg123 — October 5, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
One of the biggest challenges of my life has been to “be still” and listen to God. But what a difference in my relationship with Him when I spend time in solitude, just listening.
The true challenge comes from preventing others from shaking up the “bottle of muddy water” of my life!
The 60/60 project will remind me hourly to listen more than I speak. I have always KNOWN God is with me at work. Now I will strive to include Him in all work-related things, too. (Who says prayer has been removed from public schools?!)
Comment by kevin_williams1964 — October 5, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
Not that what you are saying hasn’t always been true, but I find it is especially relevant today as we are being bombarded by an excess of information, most of it contrary to God’s truth. I found myself struggling today as I turned my attention to my bookmarked news source, which informed me that we were all going to die of starvation as the Greater Depression was about to be ushered in (well, those weren’t the exact words, but I’m sure you get the point). I found myself panicking, as I continually reloaded the Dow’s standing on my stock widget, and my heart started to sink along with the prices. Then, to make matters worse, I read of yet another economic-woes-related murder/suicide, and my heart sank yet further. So here I am in class, right before lecture starts, and I’m in tears because of what Fox News has to say about the state of the nation, world, and universe, rather than asking God what He has to say about it. Right about that time, my beeper reminds me of what is most pressing, and this time my prayer was a bit different than just a “hi, God, how’s it going?”
So yes, time away to reflect and allow God to restore our balance and perspective on things is essential, as I am learning very quickly.
Comment by laurenlovering — October 6, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
John, I just want to thank you for this God-given opportunity we are all sharing as one. I’ll be starting my group this Wednesday and can not wait to see all that God will bring about. I so wanted to share what had been taking place in my life since starting the 60-60 3 years ago or so…but I was so nervous that I could feel the blood pumping in my head! So this evening I am taking some quiet time and letting God prepare me to be able to be a good guide for the ladies that I will be meeting for the first time in a couple of days. I will be sharing with you more of the trials that God led me through this passed year that was the worse heartache a mom could ever face, making me understanding how some people could inflict hurt on themself as to not feel the pain that was inside that you just couldn’t do anything about. He shut me down for 4 months before I could get going again, but in those 4 months in the quietness of my home, God met me and healed me from the inside out.
Comment by Linda — October 6, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
I confess that I was not really jumping onto the “soul revolution train” because deep down I am a rebel and don’t like to follow the crowd. I think I also had issue with feelings of “having to do this”.
Last night was our Leadership community meeting and it was so powerful! It was a wonderful Spirit filled night. God reminded me of a woman who he put in my path to pray for about a month ago on the steps of our church one day. As I was thinking back to her, I felt God asking me to do this 60-60 so I could do that again with other people. I decided right then in our time of worship that I was willing to jump in with both feet and see where God was going to lead me. My feelings of “having to do it” were replaced with feelings of excitement for things to come.
As I was leaving later on, I saw a woman sitting on the same steps of our church with another woman. As I looked at them, God said to me, “The woman next to her needs prayer”. So I boldly went up to her and said, “Do you need prayer?” At first she said no, but then she told me that just yesterday she had been in a really bad car accident and her car was beyond repair. She said she wasn’t sure how she would afford a new car and hoped the insurance would take care of all this. Then she looked right at me and said, “I do need prayer and I didn’t even realize I needed it until this moment”.
On my way home I called my small group leader and told her I was totally in now. Then I came home and set my watch and all day today when my watch would beep, I would pray for the woman God put me in contact with last night. I prayed for her situation and thanked God for showing me that this is more about him and me than anything else.
I’m ready and willing Lord to walk with you in this. Today was a great first day and I pray to have many more like it in the weeks to come.
kw
Comment by kw — October 6, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
Hi John,
I have to say I’m a little like KW. I don’t like to follow the crowd, and if you read my mini blog, you will see that I’m still trying to find that voice that everyone in this community claims to hear. I started reading the Soul Revolution book as soon as I got out of Sunday’s service. Part of me has felt motivated to read and find all the possibilities it brings. Yet to be painfully honest, the non-follower/pessimistic side of me, the part that can’t stop cringing every time I hear the word “Lord, God or Savior” feels as though I’m being fooled into a belief system that is not scientifically supported – a belief system for the weak.
That said, I love being at Gateway with my husband and step-child. Every time we are there I experience an overwhelming amount of joy because we are together in a place where there is no hate, only feelings of good.
Comment by natktri — October 7, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Thanks for the reminder! The past 2 months have been hard between a new job, school, and an active GO ministry. Your post reminded me that by just sitting for an hour listening inside, holding it up to God, and waiting for an answer I can find rest.
One my favorites is Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength …
I’ve been trying to figure out how to do the Sabbath without imposing a set of “laws”. The hardest part is adjusting my mindset.
Thanks again,
Rick Bowman
Comment by rjbowman — October 7, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
I’m so encouraged by all these comments. Not sure if this
is gonna work cause I’m hitting “return” to keep the words on
the page. Anyway, SMG123 - I have no doubt that God’s leading
you here because he wants you to know how to Do Life with Him.
Email me your story and I’ll shoot you a link to a message
I did on Near Death Experiences. Just a word of encouragement
for those who feel scared about jumping on the bandwagon–just
consider the peer pressure you feel every day to “ignore God”,
“go your own way,” “don’t be too religious,” “be like the rest
of us.” Most people are on the bandwagon of ignoring God’s
will most of the day, so if you truly want to be a rebel and
an independent thinker–learn to follow God and don’t be
swayed by what others think of you! If you’re struggling with
whether this is rational–read Case for Christ (Strobel), Mere
Christianity (Lewis), Fingerprint of God (Ross), or listen on
our message archives to past messages we’ve done addressing
faith and reason. I’m so glad you’re here! I just met with an engineer this week, and
after explaining all the reasons that it makes sense to believe
God really has revealed himself, she said, “Wow–I had no idea.
I have a lot to learn.” Seek and you will find! John
Comment by johnburke — October 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am